Who is Roadblock 1%er?

Roadblock 1%er grew up in Jacksonville, Florida’s Sin City neighborhood.  An admitted “adrenaline junkie” in his earlier years, he raced on NASCAR-sanctioned tracks in Florida and Georgia, with many of the great drivers from that era, including Wayne Shugart, the Ezells, Eddie MacDonald, Rance Phillips, Herb Spivey and Tiny Lund.

Jacksonville Speedway with Buddy Andrews and Eldon Yarbrough

Fast cars led to fast motorcycles, and Roadblock joined the Outlaws Motorcycle Club in 1971.  In the years to follow, he became president of several Florida chapters, then Regional Boss, living the high-speed 1970s lifestyle of sex, drugs and rock and roll.

In September 1977, he was charged with First Degree Murder in the shotgun slaying of a club hang-around in Daytona, Florida.   His accuser also named several other “victims” who proved to be very much alive.  Although the case was dismissed by the State of Florida years later, this encounter with the so-called justice system would haunt RB the rest of his life.

In March 1982, he was arrested on a five-count indictment in Tampa Florida.  This drug case centered on the activities of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club.   The only physical evidence presented against RB at trial was his Outlaws patch and four ounces of powdered cocaine.   However, he was sentenced to serve maximum consecutive sentences totaling 35 years.

In December 1982, he was again indicted, this time in Jacksonville, Florida. Using the RICO Act, the Court held Roadblock 1%er responsible for all acts allegedly committed by Outlaws club members during that time.   He received a maximum sentence of 40 years, to run concurrent with the Tampa sentence of 35 years.  In July 1983, he was shipped to the notorious Leavenworth U.S. Penitentiary.

While in prison, RB educated himself about legal procedures and began fighting back.   He became a thorn in the side of the prison officials, forcing them to comply with their own policies of which they were largely ignorant.  One of his challenges regarding the accuracy of law enforcement reports was reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court.   Not bad for someone with an 8^th grade education.

Despite his best efforts, however, he could not gain his own freedom.  As one Judge declared, they wanted to make an example of him to discourage others from joining motorcycle clubs.   Other federal agencies complied, and illegally blocked RB from any possible early release he was entitled to.   Ironically, the Draconian measures backfired.   Even from a prison cell, RB became well known in the U.S. and internationally as an example of a true 1%er who could not be broken by years of incarceration.   As for the motorcycle clubs, they are also stronger today than ever.

In December 2009, RB finally reached his mandatory release date, and was allowed to go home after almost 30 years in prison.   He was looking forward to riding a motorcycle again, catching up with technology, and enjoying a quiet lifestyle with family and friends.  Instead, he was notified that the U.S. Parole Commission decided he would be on parole, with special conditions, until 2032.  Yes, you read that right.   2032. 

Based on his own experiences, Roadblock 1%er continues to be an outspoken advocate for the rights of all motorcycle riders.   He has strong opinions about Constitutional rights, rogue law enforcement agents, and the government’s classification of motorcycle clubs as criminal organizations.   

We welcome your comments and opinions about the articles he has presented for you.   Please sign RB's Guestbook and post your observations.   Thank you.